Legislative amendments will ensure the Civil Forfeiture Office can continue to support crime prevention and victim protection programs, regardless of the province’s fiscal situation. This will be accomplished by moving the Civil Forfeiture Office (CFO) to an expense-recovery business model, through proposed amendments to the Victims Restitution and Compensation Payment Act.If passed, the changes would mean the office can recover its expenses in obtaining the forfeitures from the proceeds of the property it forfeits. The remaining proceeds will continue to be directed to the existing fund that provides grants to community-based programs focused on preventing crime and supporting victims.As a result, the office can continue to take the profit out of crime and take away assets needed to commit future crime.“Changes to the Civil Forfeiture Office mean that the office and the programs it supports will continue to operate regardless of the budget situation. This is one example of how our government is adjusting to fiscal challenges and applying innovative solutions to ensure the preservation of important programs and services.”Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor GeneralThe expense-recovery business model is similar to many other Canadian jurisdictions. The current reserves in this dedicated fund will see annual average funding levels maintained during the transition period of the CFO.If passed, the package of amendments will also:

implement a regulated fund;

prohibit a person’s objection to forfeiture from being used against the person in a criminal trial;

permit regulations to be created to list offences that cause bodily harm or generate profit, which could improve program efficiency; and

make other minor or technical changes to processes.

The amendments will allow the CFO to continue helping to make Alberta’s communities safer.